Blue Opaline Egg-form Perfume Casket Or Jewel Box, France, 19th Century

Perfume casket (or jewellery box) in soapy-textured blue opaline glass, opening via a central chiselled brass fitting decorated with gadrooned friezes and fitted with a hanging ring and its original chain, the top and bottom ends adorned with applied foliage motifs holding small transparent glass beads.
France. 19th century.
H_9.5cm
In very good condition. 

These charming egg-shaped objects, often suspended or displayed in gilded metal nests, were particularly fashionable throughout the 19th century. Crafted from translucent opaline glass, known as ‘soapy’ opaline or coloured throughout the mass, they served as secret boxes, toiletries holders or luxury travelling cases. The delicate brass or gilded bronze mountings ensured the watertightness and protection of these fragile pieces, intended for ladies’ boudoirs.

Our object follows in the tradition of 19th-century display and novelty items, reflecting the bourgeoisie’s enthusiasm for decorative tabletop accessories and refined tabletop gifts.